Main Gallery
4 February – 30 April 2023

A travelling exhibition from Museums of History NSW.
 
Before the days of Instagram and personal cameras, street photographers were a familiar part of city streets from the 1930s to the late 1950s, creating a vast archive of black-and-white, postcard-sized candid images.

During the mid-20th century, enterprising street photographers were a familiar sight on Sydney’s streets, capturing candid moments in the lives of countless people. The selected images provide glimpses into everyday life during the Depression, Second World War and post war years.

Developed in collaboration with nationally acclaimed photomedia artist Anne Zahalka, this exhibition explores the heyday of this once popular but now forgotten genre.

Image: Street photograph by Leicagraph Co, photographer Ted Waight, Pitt Street, Sydney, 1940. State Library of New South Wales collection.

 

 

Resources

In a world saturated with selfies and digital photos, take a step back and experience the science behind a Pinhole camera in your own home. Use the template and watch the film below to create your own Pinhole camera.  Once created, insert a piece of photographic paper inside, open the shutter and experiment! Tag us on social media with your amazing creations @hurstvillemuseumgallery

 

Events

Cyanotype time - SOLD OUT

In conjunction with the exhibition, Street Photography, Hurstville Museum & Gallery will be offering a cyanotype printing workshop. 

A cyanotype is a simple print-making process that does not require a darkroom, just photo-sensitised paper and sunlight. Cyanotypes are recognisable by their distinct Prussian-blue hue and are a fun and easy way to make beautiful blue tinted prints for people of all ability levels. All that is required is to combine photo sensitive chemicals, paper and sunlight with an object that can cast a silhouette.

We will provide some negative photographs from the Georges River Libraries local studies collection and participants are encouraged to bring any material they would like to incorporate into the images to create silhouettes, get creative! (Plants and flower cuttings are recommended).

Note: If you wish to use your own photo rather than those provided from our collection, please send through your image to museumgallery@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au at least 1 day prior to the workshop so it can be inverted.

Friday 28 April 2023, 10.30am – 12.30pm

Cost: $8.00 

Age: All ages. Children under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Experience: No photography experience is required. Technical assistance will be provided by the facilitator.

Equipment: All materials and equipment will be provided but participants are encouraged to bring plant, leaf, and flower cuttings from their garden to incorporate into the images.

Please note: This workshop will involve using chemicals that can be hazardous when handled incorrectly. The chemicals can also stain clothing so please wear appropriate clothing.

This event has now sold out, if you would like to join our waiting list please email us at museumgallery@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au 


Following in their footsteps: Participants joined nationally acclaimed photomedia artist Anne Zahalka in this workshop which immersed them in street photography on Wednesday 15 March 2023. This event has passed.

Hurstville Museum & Gallery celebrated the opening of this exhibition on Friday 3 February 2023, 6.00pm. Guest speakers: Anna Cossu, Curator, Museums of History NSW and Anne Zahalka, collaborating photomedia artist. This event has passed.


Image: Photo-media artist, Anne Zahalka, photographing her Reframing the Past series on Hunter Street, Sydney in 2017. Photo by Stine Baska.